As you may or may not know, I like to keep an eye on the news in order to communicate examples of why software testing is so important. It never ceases to amaze me how many problems could have been prevented simply by following solid ISEB / ISTQB software testing practices. In any case, below are some of the more prominent glitches that I’ve come across in recent days.

First on the list is a glitch that could potentially impact users of Skype. A security analyst recently identified a glitch in Skype that could allow unauthorized access to a user account by inputting a “string of code” into the mobile phone field associated with that account. When the user subsequently logs in, the hacker can then run a script to gain access to the user’s Skype ID and password, thereby facilitating the unauthorized access.

Next, Medvet Laboratories, one of the biggest DNA test firms in Australia, had a glitch that resulted in the uploading of the private info of approximately 800 people onto the company website. The glitch was in play for about 3-4 days before it was discovered, and since that time all the private information has been removed from the public’s view. Although the data breach seems to be limited to just names and addresses, it is likely that this incident will open the company up to legal scrutiny.

Finally, you can’t even get away from software glitches in space! Recently, the crew of the Atlantis space shuttle was rudely awakened during the night when an alarm erroneously went off. There’s no word on why exactly this alarm went off, but the crew did spend some time uploading software onto another of the vessel’s main computers before they went back into their slumber, if that’s any indication.

So there you go – more examples of why software testing is absolutely, positively critical in today’s world. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!